Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors that significantly increase the chances of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications. Since current anti-MetS medications like statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-blockers, insulin sensitizers and diuretics have been reported to cause unwanted side effects, researchers are exploring promising alternatives. One such alternative relies on the potential of spices and condiments, which have a long history of use in traditional medicine. Among them, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume stands out as a popular spice worldwide for its unique taste, aroma, and delicate sweetness compared to other cinnamon varieties. This narrative review aims to summarize the in vivo and clinical evidence concerning the efficacy of C. zeylanicum against MetS indices. Relevant articles from PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar databases were reviewed. In vivo results suggested that C. zeylanicum preparations (extracts, essential oil, crude powder, bioactive compounds, and biosynthesized nanoparticles) were remarkably efficient in ameliorating MetS indices, while the clinical data were less and with several methodological limitations. Further robust clinical studies are warranted to definitively establish C. zeylanicum as a promising functional food for mitigating MetS, potentially leading to its dietary integration as a natural approach to improve metabolic health. Please cite this article as: Adarthaiya S, Arivarasan VK. Potential of Cinnamomum zeylanicum for metabolic syndrome management: insights from in vivo and human studies. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 218-229.
Cinnamomum zeylanicum/chemistry* ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Phytotherapy

Objective: To explore the effects of Kudzu Root plus Cinnamon Granules (KR+C) on prostatic hyperplasia (PH) in mice. METHODS: Sixty 4-week-old Kunming male mice were randomly divided into six groups: blank control, PH model, high-, medium- and low-dose KR+C, and finasteride control. All the mice except those in the blank control group were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (5 mg / ［kg·d］) at 7 days after surgical castration. The animals of different groups were treated intragastrically with different doses of KR+C, finasteride, and normal saline respectively for 3 weeks and then sacrificed for weighing of the prostate, calculation of the prostatic index, observation of the morphological changes in the prostate after HE staining, determination of the expressions of FGF2, Ki67 and TGF-β1 by immunohistochemistry, detection of 5α-reductase activity by ELISA, and measurement of the apoptosis index of the prostatic cells by TUNEL. RESULTS: Compared with the model controls, the mice of the other groups showed significantly reduced prostatic volume (P <0.05), prostatic index (P <0.05), expressions of FGF2, Ki67 and TGF-β1, and activity of 5 α-reductase (P <0.05), but remarkably increased apoptosis index of the prostatic cells (P <0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the above parameters between the finasteride control and the three KR+C groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS KR+C can reduce the prostatic volume of PH mice by decreasing the activity of 5α- reductase, inhibiting the expressions of FGF2, Ki67 and TGF-β1, and promoting the apoptosis of prostatic cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase ; metabolism ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Organ Size ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Testosterone Propionate ; administration & dosage ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Urological Agents ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDAnalgesic and wound-healing effects of cinnamon, a widely used spice, have been shown in laboratory rats. However, we found no human studies in this area.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to assess the effect of cinnamon on perineal pain and healing of episiotomy incision.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONSIn this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 144 postpartum women were allocated into two groups, using stratified block randomization, 1 h after completion of episiotomy repair. They received cinnamon or placebo ointment, 2 mL every 12 h for 10 d.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESPerineal pain and wound healing were assessed using visual analogue scale (0-10) and Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation scale (0-15), respectively. General linear model was used to compare the groups on the outcomes adjusted for baseline values and stratified factors.

RESULTSFollow-up rate was 100% up to the 8 h time point in both groups, and 86% (62 of 72) in the cinnamon group and 85% (61 of 72) in the placebo group at day 10-11 after delivery. Pain score in the cinnamon group was significantly lower than that in the placebo group at (4±1) h (adjusted difference: -0.6, 95% confidence interval: -1.0 to -0.2) and (8±1) h (-0.9, -1.4 to -0.3) after intervention, and on the 10-11th day after delivery (-1.4, -2.0 to -0.7). Also the cinnamon group showed significantly more improvement than the control group in healing score at (8±1) h (-0.2, -0.4 to -0.04) and the 10-11th day after delivery (-1.6, -2.0 to -1.1).

CONCLUSIONCinnamon can be used for reducing perineal pain and improving healing of episiotomy incision.

Adult ; Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Pelvic Pain ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Perineum ; surgery ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the properties of solidifying volatile oil of cinnamon with colloidal silicon dioxide SYLOID244FP.

METHODVolatile oil of cinnamon was solidified by SYLOID244FP. The amount of SYLOID244FP was optimized with the cinnamaldehyde yield as criteria. Curing powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The effects of SYLOID244FP on dissolution in vitro and thermal stability of cinnamaldehyde were studied.

RESULTThe optimum solidification ratio of SYLOID244FP to volatile oil of cinnamon was 1: 1. Dissolution rate of cinnamaldehyde increasesd and its thermal stability improved after volatile oil of cinnamon was solidified.

CONCLUSIONSolidifying herbal volatile oil with SYLOID244FP deserves studying further.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Colloids ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; Silicon Dioxide ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study relatively pharmacological activities of cinnamon acid in blood serum of rabbit administered cinnamon acid, cinnamon and Jingui Shenqi pills.

METHODRP-HPLC determine and analysis blood serum sample from rabbits administered cinnamon acid, cinnamon and Jingui Shenqi pills. Condition of colour spectrum was Symmetry C18 (3.9 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) chromato bar, mobile phase was methanol-1% glacial acetic acid water-solution (45:55), flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1), temperature of bar was 35 degrees C, detection wave length was 285 nm. The serum pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with 3p87.

RESULTLinear range of cinnamon acid is from 0.06-15 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9997), the lowest detectability is 0.054 microg x mL(-1). Pharmacokinetic process of cinnamon acid in rabbit could be all fitted to two-compartment model.

CONCLUSIONSensitive and exclusive HPLC that adopt can exactly detect serum concentration in rabbits administerd cinnamon acid. Pharmacokinetic parameters of three conditions can reveal pharmacokinetics regularity of cinnamon acid in rabbit.

Animals ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rabbits ; Serum ; chemistry ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo prepare sustained-release capsules of cinnamon oil with stearic acid, polyethylene glycol 6000 and gluceryl monostearate.

METHODSAfter the solid dispersion of cinnamon oil was prepared by melting method, the effects of the process variables and formulation variables on solid dispersion and dissolution were investigated. The formulation and preparation process of cinnamon oil solid dispersion were optimized by orthogonal design, and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to detect the possible molecular interaction between cinnamon oil and the adjuvants.

RESULTSThe in vitro release percentage of the optimized formula complied with the Higuchi equation, and the preparation allowed drug delivery for 12 h. Analysis with FTIR spectroscopy revealed interactions between cinnamon oil and the adjuvents and formation of the solid dispersion.

CONCLUSIONThe solid dispersion capsules prepared through this simple and well reproducible process allow obviously sustained release of cinnamon oil.

Capsules ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Compounding ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

To discuss the general situation of the clinic utilization of Guizhi decoction in modem times. Look up the literature about the clinic utilization research of guizhi decoction in recent years, then to analyze and coordinate the useful informations. Guizhi decoction is widely used in clinic areas. The range of Guizhi decoction' treatment involves circulation, immunity, procreation, endocrine, digestion, nerve, etc. and covers various clinic illness such as internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, stomatology, etc.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Common Cold ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Nocturnal Enuresis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of TCTS on endometriosis rats.

METHODOn the model of surgical induced rat endometriosis, weight and pathological changes of endometrial transplant and serum hormones were observed.

RESULTWeight of endometrial transplants was reduced by TCTS 11.2 g.kg-1 and 22.5 g.kg-1 and transplants of TCTS treated rat showed poorly developed epithelium, thinner stroma, fewer stromal cells and glands. At the same time elevated serum E2, FSH and LH were reduced by TCTS.

CONCLUSIONTCTS can inhibit the growth of endometrial transplants, which is related with serum hormone, especially E2.

Animals ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endometriosis ; blood ; pathology ; Endometrium ; pathology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterine Diseases ; blood ; pathology